Just a Bit More Winter War

 

It has been a very busy 2 weeks of gaming, almost too busy and I have another game today! More about that soon but I wanted to get some photos from my 4th go at the armoured column scenario I put together for my Winter War campaign called Striking Back.

I have described the scenario multiple times before, so no need to repeat things. I believe the scenario is good to go now with the most recent change just being o the demolition rules. The demo rules in the new 1940 Blitzkrieg source book for CoC  are just much simplier than what is used in the main rulebook.

Tom wanted to play the Soviets, if you will remember he had a pretty solid victory against me a few weeks ago playing the same scenario as the Finns. In the 2 previous games, the Soviets had won once and and may have won once (we really screwed up the rules in that game so it is difficult to say who the victor was).

We met at the Hobby Bunker yesterday, the game went well and was finished in just under 3 hours which was not bad.

Green Soviets (Starting Morale 9, 5CD)

Core

SL and JL w/infantry squad in Gaz truck

JL w/infantry squad in Gaz Truck

JL w/engineer squad in Gaz Truck

Supports

SL w/3xT26 Tank platoon

T28 Tank

2xBT-7 Fast Tanks

KhT-26 Flame Thrower Tank

Quad Maxim Team in Gaz Truck

Elite Finns (Starting Morale 11, 5+1CD)

Core

2xSL

4xJL/infantry squads

Supports

4 Molotovs

4 Smoke Pots

3 Cluster Charges

Roadblock

ATG w/JL

Maxim MMG Team

2 Tank Hunter Teams

2 ATR Teams

So the game started using the Delaying Action scenario from the main rulebook. The Patrol Phase was played out, you can see the position of the Patrol Markers in the 1st photo. I will let the photos tell the story from here.

The Finns get to place just 3 JOP's as can be seen in the above photo. I did not really get the best postions.

The Soviet T-28 comes on as the lead, I immediately place a ATR team and lucky enough, I hit it and actually cause 2 shock and immobolize it by blowing off a track. Bad start for the Soviets as the road is now blocked and as you can see they have some distance to get to the roadblock that they have to destroy as their victory condition.

Tom decides to bring on his Quad Maxim as well as all his infantry. He ditches his trucks.

A Finnish Infantry Squad advances cautiously w/ a Tank Hunter Team

They do the same on their right flank.

The Soviets decide to advance all their infantry through the deep snow on the Finnish left flank.

Many phases have now passed and I decide to put all my troops on the table. Tom has had all his AFV on overwatch but on my next turn I use a CoC dice to end the turn and start an all out attack, I take out a T-26 as well as the T-28, the Soviets morale is falling and they are now 5. Time to start the infantry attack. I use the ATG as well as an ATR team to do this. I have to say I was extremely lucky w/ my to hit dice. I never missed once during the game.

The attack on the Finnish left flank.

The Finns on the right flank move to cross the road w/ 2 infantry squads and an AT team and an ATR team.

I attack with 2 infantry squads and the MMG team, amazingly enough I get a double and triple phase during this attack. Tom is very unlucky w/ his leader dice and I am able to take out both Sovet Infantry JL's.  The shock piles up, both Soviet squads become pinned and then one of them breaks. I play a CoC dice to end turn, they rout and the the Soviet morale is 0, while the Finns are at a 9, a clear Finnish victory. We retire to the pub for a beer and some late lunch.

Well, I think I was pretty lucky w/ the dice in this game. Getting a double and triple phase at the end of the game really gave the Soviets no chance. It was the first clear victory I got playing this scenario so I was happy enough. I did make a minor of the game rules misinterpretation in respect to SL CI's at the end of the game to my favour but it would not have changed the outcome. It is too bad that Tom did not get a chance to blow the roadblock, the new demolition rules make it much easier to so, I believe.

So I think I can put this one to bed. We have had 2 Finnish victories and 1 Soviet victory w/ one unclear outcome in 4 games. It is a tough one for the Soviets but I believe they can win. 

In all our games we forgot to use the Wrath of the Gods Soviet National Characteristic, which is essentially a free pre-game barrage for the Soviets. I think to win that the Soviets need to bring on all their infantry first in the Gaz trucks, wheeled vehicles can move on deployment so they should be able to get up the road and ditch on the side. The scenario is set up so a CD of 4, 3 or 1 can bring on one of the trucks. With the Wrath of the Gods, the Soviets with any luck could have all their infantry and engineers dismounted within 3 phases and their Quad Maxim in good position. The Finns would still be struggling to bring on their units. They then could bring on the armour. In all 4 games we played, for some reason the Soviet player, including myself, brought on the AFV's first.

Anyway, enough for Early War on the Eastern Front, I have an EW Western Front game shortly. This will be the 2nd play of the number 2 scenario from the Hunters of Ardennes SC book. Hopefully I will get up a double AR post on the blog this week. Last Saturday, I played the scenario with Mike and the Germans had a clear victory, today I play the the Belgians again but against Greg. Let's hope I can do a little better.